Singing to Baby in Utero

more info about this at http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=6236&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+science-sensibility+%28Science+%26+Sensibility%29

"Pain is good...it lets you know your alive"

I am currently taking anatomy and physiology 2 at a local community college and have "fallen into" a couple of conversations with women in my class that somehow turn into talking about childbirth. Of course I always run with it and ask the women as many questions as I can. One of my classmates, Sue, went into detail about her pregnancy and birthing experience with her 1 and only child. She told me some crazy stories: riding motorcycles, going off roading and just living the way she normally would. When she described her birthing experience, she told me she didn't take any drugs. She said she enjoyed being in control of the situation and participating in the labor. When we talked about the pain, she said "Pain is good....it lets you know your alive." Needless to say, I thought she was a pretty cool chick and appreciated her honesty about her birth experience. She said she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Disorders and Depression

Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Disorders and Depression HELP IS AVAILABLE 24/7 - call 855-422-2255

The Postpartum Resource Center of New York

Postpartum Progress

Postpartum Support International

Words every laboring woman should consider before they choose a care provider.....

"If a woman doesn’t look like a goddess during birth, then someone isn’t treating her right."
~ Ina May Gaskin

Your doctor may be well-known, and even well-liked but that does not mean he or is she is right for you. Find a care provider who treats you and your pregnancy gently. The way you are cared for during your pregnancy is a reflection of how you will be treated during labor. Do not ignore signs if you feel uncomfortable during your prenatal visits, or if you feel rushed in and out of each visit. There ARE doctors and midwives out there who will listen to you, help address your fears and answer each and every question you have.

I Heart My Perineum

a great post about efforts to maintain an intact perineum during birth

10 Tips for “Labor Day”

How to achieve the labor & delivery you imagine
By Healthy Moms Happy Babies

1. Labor at home as long as possible

Hospitals often impose informal time limits for labor & delivery. They may want to introduce interventions to speed labor along if they feel that you’re not progressing quickquickly enough. Once one intervention has been made, it’s that much easier for more to happen. Avoid the cascade effect and stay home until your contractions follow the 4-1-1 or 5-1-1 rule (contractions occurring every 4 or 5 minutes that are one minute long over the course of one hour). You’ll be more comfortable at home!

2. Eat, drink, & rest in early labor as much as you can

Keep your strength up by taking care of yourself in the early stages of labor. Often the excitement of everything will cause you to want to make calls, clean the house, pack your bags, etc… Resist the urge to expel unnecessary energy so you can be strong through the whole event. Eat, drink, and rest as much as possible. Think marathon, not sprint!

3. Change positions often to find comfort

Standing, sitting, laying, hands-and-knees, and squatting are all viable ways to labor (and deliver). The birth ball can be a great tool to sit on, or lean on – from a standing or kneeling position. Try different positions and follow your body’s rhythm to know when to change things up.

4. Walk to make some progress

Let gravity do some of the work! Walking in between contractions can be a great way to further move the baby downward into the birth canal. If you aren’t able to walk far, try making figure 8’s with the hips or marching in place.

5. Tell your doula, or birth partner, how they can help you

Doulas come prepared with an array of massage techniques and position suggestions that they can offer. In addition, they can get you water, food, chapstick, heating pad, or whatever you need. They are also great sources of emotional support and encouragement. Communicate your needs and let others help you.

6. Use the shower or bath to relax

The warm water will soothe your body and you can use the sprayer to target any spots (like the low back) that are painful and/or uncomfortable. While baths in early labor can slow things down, they are very effective in late labor to relax the urogenital muscles

7. Go to the bathroom often

If you are drinking often, you’ll need to pee often and believe it or not, urinating is a great way to relax the muscles of the pelvic floor. Sit down and stay awhile. Maybe even turn around and lean on the back of the toilet to get comfortable.

8. Use your breath effectively

Breathing is an effective way to lower stress levels and keep your awareness on the present moment. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. With every exhale, open your jaw slightly and let go of your pelvic floor. Making sighing sounds or any other sound will only enhance the effect of the breath.

9. Take your time when making decisions

There are lots of decisions to be made during labor and delivery and it can be a confusing and disorienting time. If you are unsure about the options that are being put in front of you, ask for a few minutes to discuss it with your partner or support team. Take a deep breath, and weigh your options.

10. Think positively

Keep your attitude elevated and avoid letting negativity cloud your mind. Know that all of your efforts are working even if they don’t show in your degree of dilation right away (there are more ways than dilation to make progress). Know from deep within yourself that you are capable of giving birth – it’s what your body was made to do!

PREGNANCY NURTURING MOVES® For SCIATICA AND LOW BACK PAIN

10 Tips for Achieving a Successful, Positive Birth Experience

1. Get educated

Find a private childbirth education class to learn the anatomy of birth, along with valuable tips for labor. Hospital classes are somewhat useful but we find private classes are geared more towards helping a woman decide what’s right for her. A good read is another great way to educate yourself. We love Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin and Sheila Kitzinger’s The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth.

2. Surround yourself with positivity

The power of positive thinking is a great tool throughout pregnancy and birth. Surrounding yourself with people who are optimistic about your pregnancy and have positive stories about birth will help you remember this is a beautiful, sacred time in your life.

3. Practice yoga and/or meditation

Yoga and meditation are wonderful ways to de-stress throughout your pregnancy. Taking some quiet time to breathe and focus on your inner strength can help you in labor as well.

4. Hire the right midwife or doctor

Choosing a care provider is one of the most important decisions you will make during pregnancy. Be sure you interview a few care providers to find one who shares similar views as you, will respect your desires and listen to your concerns. It may seem too soon to talk about birthing preferences but it is an important conversation to have to ensure everyone is on the same page.

5. Hire a doula

A doula will guide you and your partner through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As a trained and experienced professional, she will be there to educate, support and comfort you as well as provide labor support when the day arrives. A doula will be there to provide continuous, judgment-free information and care.

6. Give birth where you feel most comfortable

You may think a hospital is the safest place to give birth but really think about what is most important to you for this momentous event. Explore your options and choose a place where you feel safe and comfortable. Your body and baby will respond to your feelings when labor day comes!

7. Get a second opinion

If a situation arises where your medical provider suggests a test or procedure you are not 100% okay with, ask questions and do not be afraid to do your own research and/or ask for a second opinion. It’s your body!

8. Address your fears

You may think fear and anxiety are just a part of pregnancy but they do not have to be. Work on getting to the roots of these fears. Talk to your partner, care provider, doula, friends and family.

9. Be open and present

Be proactive but do not overwhelm yourself with trying to plan every aspect of your labor and birth. Labor is unpredictable so going with the flow of things is key!

10. Trust your body and intuition

Our bodies are made to birth our babies. Trust yourself and listen to your instincts, they can be your most powerful tool.

Coping with Loss of Pregnancy or Newborn

A great article about a topic which is often not given enough credit...

Coping with Loss of Pregnancy or Newborn

Waiting for Baby

"Waiting for Baby" Meditation

This a great meditation exercise to remember to go with the flow of things

-Sit in easy pose facing your partner with your knees touching
-Put your hands out with palms touching
-Push your left hand into your partners right, and have your partner push his/her left hand into your right
-Sing: Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream
-Continue to sing together, out loud and have fun with it - laugh and smile

Your baby can hear you!

Do this for 3-5 minutes every day as you prepare for birth

Pushing for First-Time Moms by Gloria Lemay

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/pushing.asp

A wonderful article in Midwifery Today by Gloria Lemay about Pushing for First-Time Moms

Nausea? Morning Sickness?

Nausea is a common problem associated with pregnancy. Here are some natural ways you can prevent and treat it!

-get adequate rest
-avoid pungent odors that cause nausea, especially odors that cause nausea for even those who aren't pregnant
-take vitamins with food because taking vitamins on an empty stomach can cause nausea
-keep yourself hydrated
-try acupressure or acupuncture or SeaBands: click here
-try 50mg of vitamin B6 daily
-eat healthily, and be sure to get adequate protein
-avoid greasy foods
-drink TEA! parsley, chamomile, and peppermint tea are all great options
-try drinking 1 glass of milk before bed if milk sits okay with you
-have a bite to eat before bed
-eat some ginger chews: click here
-try wild yam root *USE WITH CAUTION*
-try preggie pops: click here
-take gingera: click here
-take liquid chlorophyll supplement

And, of course, you can read more about Herbal Allies for Pregnancy Problems from Susun Weed: http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Pregnancy_Problems.htm


*CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE TAKING ANY HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS*

blessings!

Laura

Pregnancy & Nutrition

I think nutrition is one of the most underestimated ways you can help yourself and your baby during pregnancy. It is extremely important to eat well during pregnancy. Nutrition will effect how you feel, how your baby feels, your energy level, your health, your overall pregnancy and your BIRTH.

But what does eating right really mean?

Check out the Dr. Brewer Pregnancy diet: http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id96.html

This is a great diet to follow during pregnancy.

For what NOT to eat, read this article called 7 Foods So Unsafe Even Farmers Won't Eat Them

It is okay to give in to your cravings but try to stay eating as healthy has possible. As with any "diet" there can be challenges but it is all about self control. Try to remind yourself that everything you eat your baby is also eating...this can help you stay on track!

Bonding

In my doula world, mother baby bonding is very frequently talked about and discussed. But I think it is still am important topic to discuss with everyone, not only with moms, doulas, midwives, doctors and other birth professionals.

When a mother fully bonds with her baby during pregnancy, she will gain a better understanding of what actually takes place during labor and birth and why it is important to be an active participant as much as she is able. To trust the natural process of birth, we must understand how strong a connection mother and baby have. Together, they know how to birth. When mom and baby are connected, mom has a strong intuitive knowledge of her body and her baby and what they are doing during labor. This can greatly effect her birth experience. She be able to make decisions for herself and her baby and will own her birth.

This bonding lasts forever, not just during pregnancy and birth. Mom and baby bonding lasts a lifetime and has a significant effect on both lives forever. If everyone could understand how important this bond is, there would be more respect and support for women, women's bodies, pregnancy, the natural birth process, babies, breastfeeding and parenting. After all, they are all naturally linked.

Here is another blogger post about bonding: The bond between mother and baby

"You go to the moon when you're at a birth"

I attended a Labor Doula workshop a couple days ago and one of the things the teacher, Judith Halek, said really stuck in my head. She said "You go to the moon when you're at a birth...if you don't know and feel that, you shouldn't be attending births." If only everyone who attends birth (moms, dads, sisters, OBs, midwives, nurses, doulas) could see it as this sacred life changing experience, maybe they would treat themselves, women, and babies with more compassion.

Part of my job as a doula is to teach both men and women about the miracle of childbirth so that they and their partners can achieve their goals for the birth of their baby with a supportive team by their side. It is possible to have a safe, happy, AND healthy birth!

A Joyful Birth Video

Some people may think doulas aren't unnecessary, but in today's society, there is a major lack of support for pregnant, laboring and new mothers. Doulas can provide this very important support to help make your experience the best it can be. Every woman deserves that.

Read an article about how doulas can provide this lost support.

The Face of Birth

SO many new movies and documentaries about birth coming up!! Hopefully this will help women get educated BEFORE birth so that they can make the right choices for themselves.

The Face of Birth website

The Face of Birth Trailer

Amazing stuff. I get goosebumps just watching the trailer!

Birth Made Simple

The fact of the matter is that birth is SIMPLE. It really is. With all of our modern technology, we have forgotten how simple birth can be. Our culture has created this fear centered perspective on birth. BUT there are ways to undo this fear. Educating yourself about the birth process is the first step. Changing the way you see birth can make a huge difference in your own pregnancy, labor and delivery. Helping yourself see birth from the perspective that it is a normal, natural, beautiful process can even help your labor and delivery go more smoothly. After all, your brain is one of the most important and useful parts of your body during birth.

BIRTH MADE SIMPLE

-Birth is NORMAL, NATURAL, and a true miracle
-Women (and many other mammals) have been giving birth vaginally forever
-You and your baby are made to birth
-Surrounding yourself with people who also believe you are a strong woman who can birth will help keep a positive attitude
-Connect with your baby; Pregnancy and birth are a team effort, you and your baby are both contributing to the process
-If you can create a beautiful being in your body, you can do anything
-Create a comfortable setting for birth, your body will be able to do what is it meant to do when you are in a safe, supported environment
-Support during labor is key: your partner, mother, sister, friend, doula, or anyone who believes in you will help keep you feeling safe and strong
-Eat, drink, use the bathroom during labor
-Use your body: moving around during labor will do wonders for progress
-Stay off your back unless it is the most comfortable position for you and baby
-Listen to your body - it knows what you need and what it's doing
-When things in labor change: work with it - stay in control of your mind

Educating yourself about how to make labor go as smooth and natural as possible will contribute to a positive birth experience. Pregnancy and birth is a miracle, and something we are LUCKY to have the opportunity to go through. It is not a burden, it is not scary, it is a blessing. Make it YOURS!

"NATURAL was the theme of the pregnancy"

By Julia M.

I always knew I would be a mother. Thinking back, I notice that I have spent much of my life following my mama around, wanting to be just like her. When my mom had her fifth, and last child, I was 14 years old. You might say that the new addition to the family was good birth control for a teenage girl. But her presence was also incredibly inspiring to me. I didn't know I could love someone so much, and dreamed of someday having a baby of my own.
About five years later, I fell in love with a wonderful man, who would soon become my husband. We shared a love of natural living and organic food that became even more important to us when we learned I was pregnant. NATURAL was the theme of the pregnancy - we were sure we did not want to proceed in any other way. We found the perfect group of midwives at a hospital in Cambridge, MA, and did not look back. We sought advice from the amazing yoginis, doulas and conscious mothers in our lives. I was sure that we had been blessed with a boy, but we decided not to learn the sex of the baby before his/her birth. The pregnancy was normal and healthy, but of course, often overwhelming. All in all, I felt like my body was a sacred temple for a beautiful new life. We could not wait to meet the soul which had chosen to be our baby.

I was due on November 28th. By the end of October, I felt that I was carrying the baby very low. My appetite slowed, and my energy soared. I felt joyful anticipation each day. I was nesting. On November 8th, I was feeling a unique and powerful energy surging through my body. We had a busy Sunday, and I was a bit more talkative than usual. Then, at around 8:30 PM, I felt a small gush of fluid. We were home, and I walked into the bathroom, thinking that maybe it was my mucous plug. Within a minute, I was experiencing bigger and bigger gushes of fluid leave my body - my water broke. I grabbed a towel, and yelled for my husband. Our hearts raced as we called the midwives. We heard from a midwife named Julia that I had tested positive for Group B strep, and would need to come to the hospital to receive IV antibiotics. We were too excited to be bothered by the news, however we had planned to labor at home for as long as possible, and felt somewhat rushed. My husband packed the car while I sat on a towel, on our bed, and continued to feel my waters leaving my body. I was nervous, but ready to go.

Ten minutes after my water broke, my contractions began. As this was my first child, we were prepared for a lengthy labor, but my body had a different plan. After nine months of being told not to expect a "Hollywood movie labor," we got exactly that. By the time we reached the hospital, my contractions were 2 minutes apart, and quite intense. The hospital was full, and we were put in an overflow room to labor until a delivery room became available. I was already 4 cm dilated, and my contractions were coming fast and strong. I barely had a break between each, and the pain was almost unbearable. I labored mostly leaning forward in a standing position, and on all fours. I was incredibly sensitive, refusing any kind of touch or sound offered (too bad for my husband who was prepared to support me through each contraction - I wouldn't let him near me). There in the overflow room, midwife Julia checked my cervix to find that I was almost fully dilated. I had made it through transition, and was preparing to push. I was sort of squatting when the pushing began, but the baby's head was not coming down. I did not want to deliver on my back, but after midwife Julia noticed that the baby's head was not able to pass my pubic bone in a squatting position, I laid back and was able to push the baby down. It was just after 1:00AM and I was struggling to push at all. Between each push, I felt I needed to fall asleep. But soon I was told to reach down and feel my baby's head. I could feel a hairy little crown, and got a boost of energy to finish the job. With a few more pushes, my boy was out. He was immediately placed on my body. I couldn't believe how beautiful he was. It was completely surreal. John weighed 7lb 11oz. He nursed well right away. I loved my birth experience with a midwife, and will absolutely seek the same care in the future.
The only unfortunate issue I had physically, was that I had been given 2 stitches which came apart. The day after the birth, I received many more stitches to repair the damage, and I was not entirely numbed for the procedure. Ouch! After having John, I experienced intense "baby blues." The weeks following his birth were manageable otherwise, but extremely difficult emotionally. As my stitches healed, and I was able to get outside to walk, my mood lifted. I began to enjoy my new baby and our love grew exponentially.

Does birth change us?

I am really lucky to be living with my wonderful mother for many reasons. One reason is because we've had the chance to sit around and talk about all sorts of issues and topics, including birth. She is my biggest cheerleader when it comes to my doulaing and I love that I can talk to her and tell her just about everything! She always listens, supports and gives me great feedback.

Birth has been an ongoing discussion of ours since I moved home in January 2009 and started working on learning everything I can about birth. One of the best things I've learned are the details of my own birth, and those of my sister and brothers. I feel so lucky to have heard all about my mom's experience because I think it is an important talk to have, one that many women do not have with their mothers.

So recently my mom and I were reflecting on our birth dicussions and realized how we most likely never would have had these in depth conversations if I hadn't become a doula and learned about birth the way that I have. This is when we realized: why don't we have these discussions more? Why is birth not talked about more amongst women??

Sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and mothering are all things we MUST discuss in order to feel comfortable with the fact that they are all an extremely important part of human nature. We cannot deny that our experiences during sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and mothering change us as women.

My mom has pointed out that these intense discussions have also made her realize how much her pregnancies and births changed her as a woman and person. She said that after she had my sister (her first baby), a friend came up to her and said "something about you has changed since you had a baby..." and now she knows more specifically what that change was. She has explained how empowering pregnancy and childbirth were for her. She was ready to be a mother when she got pregnant and therefore accepted her pregnancy as a blessing from a higher power. She cherished her growing fetus and even kept a detailed journal of the entire pregnancy. My mom said that she didn't even need to do research or much thinking to decide that she wanted a natural, un-medicated birth. "Why wouldn't I want to do it naturally?" is how is she explains her thinking. I am fascintated by her strength. She had a wonderful pregnancy, birth and experience breastfeeding. That was the beginning of her new life as a mother. It's beautiful! She, a 25 year old woman, could find her natural mothering instincts and make the best of them. I feel blessed to have a mother who has cared to share her experiences with me. Hearing her stories give me strength and hope that we can all take advantage of the extraordinary gift we are given - to give life!

If you can, talk to your mother about her experiences as a woman. If you can't, talk to other women.